LOS ANGELES — Jon Blum grew up not far from Staples Center, where the Wild played Monday night.

He grew up playing street hockey, often without even inline skates. He used a plastic hockey ball and the gutters as goals.

Monday night, he was set to have a couple dozen friends and family members at Staples Center watching him. Conveniently, it’ll be Blum’s 100th career NHL game.

“They’re all pumped for me to play in So. Cal. where they can actually watch me play,” Blum said of his family and friends. “To be playing in the NHL is a dream come true.”

BRIEFLY

Blum is playing in place of injured defenseman Keith Ballard, out with a lower body injury.

Ballard has missed eight straight games but may return to the lineup Thursday against Chicago.

“He’s actually very close, I would say,” coach Mike Yeo said. “Given the fact that we have another opportunity to have a practice coming up, I would say there’s a good chance we could get him in for that Chicago game as long as things keep progressing the way they have.”

Chad Graff joined the Pioneer Press in April of 2013 -- long enough to cover three straight Wild playoff exits at the hands of the Blackhawks -- after working for the Philadelphia Inquirer and Boston Globe. He's lived in California and Texas, but most recently spent a decade in New Hampshire. He watched New England fans celebrate seven championships in his time there, yet somehow his only sports allegiance lies with Nebraska football.

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